In February 2019, Atlanta Ballet will present two Kids In Step student matinee performances of Beauty & The Beast at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (CEPAC), our main-season performance home. Atlanta Ballet has offered Kids In Step student matinee performances at CEPAC through its Centre for Dance Education since 2007. These performances are designed to be a gateway to the art form for both children and adults new to the genre. Unlike a typical ballet performance, a Kids In Step student matinee is one hour in length and usually includes either live or recorded narration or a behind-the-scenes explanation of the technical elements of a show (such as backdrops, lighting, and sound). Each performance is accompanied by educational material, which integrates the arts experience into the academic curriculum. For many children, a Kids In Step student matinee performance is their first experience of live performance in a theater. By offering two full productions of Beauty & The Beast to Cobb County and metro-Atlanta public, charter, and home schools, we can inspire over 5,000 youth and foster arts appreciation among children who are otherwise not afforded the opportunity for dance education. In addition to reaching over 5,000 schoolchildren, teachers, and chaperones, Atlanta Ballet’s Kids In Step student matinee performances of Beauty & The Beast offer a unique way to cultivate the next generation of dancers, elevating the art and culture of our community. Beauty & The Beast showcases performers from Atlanta Ballet 2, which is the highest level of training offered by the CDE. These young dancers fine-tune their craft through performances like Beauty & The Beast, bridging the gap between student and professional. Kids In Step student matinee performances are special to the performers as well as the audience: There is something uniquely inspiring about performing for an audience full of children. Experiencing the unbridled joy that dance can inspire helps to plant the seed of generosity and charity in these young pre-professionals. Performances like these are also crucial in preparing them for careers as professional artists.

Service Area: Cobb County

Categories Arts, Culture & Humanities

• Population Served: Children (5-14), Teenagers (14-19), Poor/Economically Disadvantaged